Perinatal Support Washington

12/23/2025

When we support parents, we strengthen entire families—and that includes fathers.

Too often, dads are expected to navigate the emotional realities of pregnancy, birth, and early parenting on their own, with little preparation and even less support. CS experienced isolation, fear, and perinatal depression that nearly overwhelmed him, until our Dads Support Group became a lifeline at a critical moment. His experience shows what donor support makes possible: free, compassionate care for fathers who might otherwise struggle in silence, and stronger, healthier futures for their children.

Your gift today funds inclusive, accessible support groups, free and low-cost therapy, the toll-free Warm Line, and culturally matched peer support across all our programs. Please donate today at: perinatalsupport.org/donate

12/23/2025

Learn how to effectively identify and screen parents experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. This training takes place over 4 days and is appropriate for a range of providers, including OBs, pediatricians, midwives, RNs, social workers, mental health therapists, doulas, public health employees, home visitors, IBCLCs, and more.

This training is open to all Washington state providers.

Learn more and register here: https://perinatalsupport.org/event/best-practices-jan_feb2026/

12/22/2025

Big shout out to Rachael, our Volunteer of the Year!

As our Warm Line Program Manager says: "Rachael has been a volunteer with the Warm Line for over 3 years, and from the beginning has been a standout volunteer in the way she shows up to support parents calling the Warm Line. Rachael is skilled at holding space for parents to say all the hard things that need saying. She leaves no stone unturned in her search for resources and has served many Warm Line parents well beyond our week-long regular service because they feel so seen and supported by her. For example, in our user survey, one parent responded that she felt very well looked after during what felt like a crisis and was very grateful for the support! Rachael can make connections with callers over the phone, which is no easy feat. With her calming voice, words, presence, and ability to provide validation and education about the struggles of the perinatal period, Rachael has a real skill set for helping parents feel at ease so they can explore their feelings, cry, grieve, and come to acceptance. Thank you, Rachael, for all you have given to the Warm Line and the parents you have supported over the years! We appreciate you so much!"

Read how Rachael got started on the Warm Line and what she's learned on our blog at: perinatalsupport.org/info-hub

12/21/2025

Check out this special video message from our Executive Director, Emma York-Jones, marking today’s Winter Solstice, the darkest day of the year. Emma shares how we bring light to families facing some of the darkest days of their lives. Just as the Winter Solstice reminds us that brighter days are ahead, your gift to PS-WA helps parents find their light to spark a happier, healthier future.

Please donate at: perinatalsupport.org/donate

12/19/2025

We wanted to share this deeply moving personal story of an adoptive parent, who navigated the postpartum period with identity issues, overwhelm from the legal system, and mental and physical health challenges.

As she says, "Within my relationship to my own autonomy and body, I struggled. Physically, I knew I shared many of the telltale signs of new parenthood, the dark eye circles, messy mom bun, and obligatory soft pants. But body dysmorphia haunted me, feeling questioning eyes tracing me wherever we went. I did not have a recovering postpartum body and didn’t look like I had earned my baby. I struggled with the relationship to my body’s lack of ability to feed them. As a new mom to this baby, but not a new mom generally, I felt estranged from the new mommy clubs in their excitement and novelty."

Read the essay on our blog at: perinatalsupport.org/info-hub

12/15/2025

In this heartfelt interview, multiracial writer, multimedia producer, and nonprofit director Daniel Tam-Claiborne shares his parenthood journey. An important testimonial on the often-overlooked dad perspective. "I expected that caring for my daughter would be difficult, but I didn’t anticipate being faced with a depression so all-consuming I spent many nights in tears. I’m lucky not to have had significant bouts of depression in my life, but as a result, I was wholly unprepared for what happened after my daughter’s birth. I loathed the relentlessness. I dreaded the sudden fits. But I also found myself seized by a hopelessness I’d never before experienced. I saw my old self slipping away, and with it, the simple joys that made life worth living."

Read more on our blog: perinatalsupport.org/info-hub

12/12/2025

This week, the WA Department of Health released its new Maternal Mortality Review Panel Report, and it's a gut-wrenching look at how these highly avoidable deaths during the perinatal period are devastating our communities.

Some key findings:
🔴American Indian/Alaskan Native birthing people continue to experience the highest rate of maternal mortality: 7.3x the rate of pregnancy-related deaths of white people.
🔴Behavioral health-related deaths accounted for just under half (45%) of all pregnancy-related deaths, making it the single leading cause of death.
🔴Over 80% of the deaths were preventable.

The panel recommends:
🟢IMPROVE HEALTH CARE QUALITY AND ACCESS
Ensure Washingtonians have access to high-quality health care—including mental health care, substance use disorder treatment, and preventive care—throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum by strengthening and funding care coordination, improving communication and protocols, and ensuring providers have the skills, training, and professional support they need to provide high-quality care.

🟢STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES
Invest in, develop, and expand comprehensive community support services that address essential needs during pregnancy and postpartum. These include strengthened home visiting programs, social work services, doula care, wraparound support for mental health and substance use disorder, and housing and food assistance.

🟢PROVIDE EQUITABLE, CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE CARE
Ensure care and services throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum are culturally responsive, free from bias, grounded in trauma-informed practices, and actively address racial injustice.

🩵Through our open and accessible direct service programs, culturally matched peer support, provider trainings, and coordination with community partners, we are addressing all of these areas to save lives every day.🩵

If you or someone you know is in need of mental health or emotional support during the perinatal period, please call or text the Warm Line at: 1-888-404-7763

Read the report:https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2025-10/141-253-MaternalMortalityReviewPanelReport-2025.pdf

12/10/2025

Day by day, year after year, we are serving families in need of perinatal mental health support.

Monthly giving provides a stable funding source for PS-WA’s programs all year long. It’s easy to extend your gift, just click “monthly” when checking out. The end of the year is approaching, and every gift, no matter the size, is vital for our continued programming!

perinatalsupport.org/donate

🎁

12/09/2025

March of Dimes just released its 2025 Report Card, offering a dire look at maternal and infant health across the US. For the fourth consecutive year, the US earned a D+ grade for preterm birth. Preterm birth remains one of the leading causes of infant mortality, with 5.6 deaths per 1,000 live births.

The US continues to be one of the most dangerous developed nations for childbirth. The Report Card breaks down how each state is performing and what these grades mean for families and communities. Here in WA, we scored a B- which is slightly lower than we scored last year.

Read more here: marchofdimes.org/report-card

The 2025 March of Dimes Report Card highlights the collective factors that contribute to maternal and infant mortality and morbidity in the United States (US), Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico.

12/08/2025

Still Spots Left!

Join us a week from tonight for Raise the Barre, a 60-minute movement and meditation class to benefit us here at PS-WA!

We’ll gather at Barre3 Ballard in Seattle for an uplifting class led by studio owner Katie Lyden, followed by a glass of wine or a delicious non-alcoholic option.

It’s a chance to move your body, reset your mind, and connect with community — all while supporting parents across Washington from pre-conception through the toddler years.

📅 Monday, December 15 at 7:15pm
📍 Barre3 Ballard in Seattle
💻 Register at: bit.ly/PSWABARRE

12/05/2025

We were honored to be invited to attend a baby shower for expecting parents of the Seattle Seahawks! The expecting moms and attendees were excited to learn about the work at PS-WA and WestSide Baby, and in lieu of gifts gave support to both organizations. Thank you to Julia Love and the Seahawks Women's Association! Go Seahawks!

12/02/2025

💙 It’s Giving Tuesday! 💙
Today, we join a global movement rooted in generosity, community, and hope.

Every year, thousands of parents across Washington navigate the challenges of conception, pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood—often carrying the weight of perinatal anxiety, depression, or isolation. No one should have to face that journey alone.

Your Giving Tuesday gift makes sure they don’t.
✨ It keeps our Warm Line answered.
✨ It sustains peer support across all programs so parents feel seen and understood.
✨ It ensures families receive compassionate, culturally responsive mental health therapy when they need it most.

When we show up for parents, we strengthen families—and stronger families create stronger communities.

Give today. Support every journey.
💛 perinatalsupport.org/donate